Promising figure skater Lee Jae-keun (Korea University) finished second in the short program of the 2026–2027 International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix 2nd Leg, breaking his personal best score.

Competing at the Volvo Sports Center in Riga, Latvia, on the 28th (Korean time), Lee scored a total of 83.20 points, comprising 47.12 points in technical elements (TES) and 36.08 points in program components (PCS).

This surpassed his previous personal best of 82.41 points set at the ISU Challenger Series Kinoshita Group Cup in September of last year by 0.79 points.

He sits just 0.55 points behind Japan's Sena Takahashi, who claimed first place with 83.75 points.

Lee will now aim for a medal in the free skate scheduled for the 29th.

He cleanly executed his opening jumping elements, the triple lutz and the second element, the triple axel.

His first non-jumping element, the flying camel spin, also earned the maximum difficulty level of 4.

His performance in the latter half, which carries a 10% bonus in scores, was equally spotless.

After perfectly landing his triple loop-triple toe loop combination jump, he successfully completed a change foot combination spin (Level 4), step sequence (Level 3), and change foot sit spin (Level 4) to wrap up his routine.

Meanwhile, fellow compatriot and championship favorite Choi Ha-bin (Hankwang High School) finished fifth with a total of 76.21 points (40.76 in TES, 36.45 in PCS, with a 1-point deduction).

He suffered a heavy deduction after stumbling on the landing during his second jumping pass, the triple flip-triple toe loop combination.

In the women's single short program, Jang Ha-rin (Dojang Middle School) placed 12th with 56.01 points.

She trails the leader, Mei Okada of Japan (72.47 points), by 16.46 points.

(Photo: Captured from ISU social media, Yonhap News)